LAFAYETTE, Ind.— Patrons won't be able to smoke in downtown Lafayette's newest restaurant and bar, but the meat on their plates will be.

The Smoking Irishman, located at 221 N 4th Street, had a soft opening last week under owner Robert Turner, owner of Bobby T's BBQ and Breakfast, serving an array of smoked meats creating spins on traditional Irish dishes.

The decision to pursue an Irish pub in downtown Lafayette wasn't one that came with a long process of planning, Turner said, after people prompted with the available space by the building's owner, Dave Andrus.

"When the calendar changed to 2019, (The Smoking Irishman) was not part of the plan, but mid January was when talks about this began, otherwise I wouldn't have been making changes to Bobby T's down the street," Turner said. "The very first place Dave opened up 14 years ago was an Irish Pub called Andrus O'Reilly's, and I helped him in opening that."

The downstairs main dining area, along with the downstairs outdoor patio, will be a family friendly dining area. But venturing upstairs to the additional dining area, bar and outdoor space, that area will all be for ages 21 and over.

"We are looking to give this upstairs an old school speakeasy vibe," he said. "I'm looking to get a regulation pool table up here with leather pockets."

Turner said his smoker will be utilized for both of his restaurants, with it finding a new home at The Smoking Irishman as he has better outdoor space to prepare the meats. All items smoked for Bobby T's BBQ and Breakfast will be smoked at the 4th Street restaurant to then be brought to the corner of 6th Street.

With the new arrangements and additional restaurant, Turner said Bobby T's BBQ and Breakfast will begin opening after 5 p.m.

"Smoking food is my passion, and after my years spent working for Dave, I feel more comfortable in an Irish pub than I do anywhere else," he said. "So to combine the two, they just really came together perfectly in this building when I first walked through it."

In the coming weeks, Turner said he plans to offer a questionnaire for patrons to better probe what they would like to see on the menu as well as behind the bar.

"We will continue adding on to the menu slowly but surely, but we are planning to offer soon a smoked shepherd's pie along with smoked lamb chops," he said. "Just going to add a little to it every week, along with starting specials."

The Smoking Irishman will be open from Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Turner said the restaurant will begin serving brunch hours and menu options beginning in May.

Contact reporter Jillian Ellison at 765-420-5228 or at jeellison@gannett.com.